The road markings and symbols are expected to make it easier for bikers to get around, said GetAbout Columbia team member Corri Flaker.

On roads that are too narrow to include a bike lane, the city will paint shared-lane markings on streets. The symbols indicate that a lane is to be shared with bicyclists and drivers. The symbols are spaced 250 to 350 feet apart and are 3 1/2 feet wide by 6 feet tall. The symbols are intended to be big enough to be seen by drivers.

GetAbout Columbia is a part of the city’s Public Works department that encourages people to bike or walk instead of driving.

The funding for the bike lanes is coming from a $21.5 million federal grant the city received in 2007. The Public Works Department created GetAbout Columbia as a way to use the money and make Columbia more biker friendly.

GetAbout Columbia is teamed with the PedNet project, an organization that provides information to the community about the benefits of bicycles and bicycle safety.